Outlet box



Oct. 20, 194 A. L. GREGERSEN OUTLET BOX Filed Jan. 25, 1940 I am A/fnaa L. Greyera Patented Oct. 20, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OUTLET BOX Alfred L. Gregersen, Waterloo, Iowa Application January 25, 1940, Serial No. 315,607

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved outlet box.

It is well known that when it is desired to install outlet boxes in the walls of buildings, the material of the walls is usually such that nailing or screwing of the outlet boxes in position is not practicable.

One object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an outlet box wherein means are employed for permitting installation of the box on a wall Without the need of screws or nails.

Another object of the invention is to provide an outlet box wherein the mounting means is adjustable to fit walls of difierent thicknesses.

A further object of the invention is to provide an outlet box wherein the mounting means may be disposed and locked out of the way while the box is being pressed through the wall so that interference with movement of the'box will not take place.

And as a still further object the invention seeks to provide an outlet box characterized by the utmost simplicity of construction.

Further objects and advantages of the invention not specifically mentioned hereinbefore will become apparent during the course of the following description. This description, taken in connection with the drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention. It should be understood, however, that other embodiments may be contemplated without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of my application:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an outlet box made in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device, partly shown in elevation.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the device, showing the clamping element employed as it would appear in retracted position to permit shifting of the outlet box into and out of an opening.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the clamping elements employed.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference will be seen to designate like parts throughout the various views, the numeral l indicates, in general, the body of my improved outlet box. The body includes top and bottom walls 2 and 3, a rear wall 4, and side walls 5 and 6. The walls are each provided with knock-outs l which are removable for permitting the passage of cables into the outlet box. The body is open at its forward end and the top and bottom walls 2 and 3 are provided at their corresponding forward ends and medially of their widths with upstanding ears 8 and 9. It should be understood that the body is of the well known interengagingsection type. I v

Removably and adjustably connected tothe corresponding forward ends of the top and bottom walls 2 and 3 are right angularly spaced mounting flanges l9 and H. The flanges l0 and l I are held in place by means of screws l2 which extend through slots 13. Formed in the top and bottom walls of the body and leading from points near the corresponding forward ends of said walls to points near the midportions thereof are guide slots M. and 15. The guide slots are'intersected at their corresponding rear ends, and at points substantially medially of the Width of the body, by clamping element receiving slots It.

For the purpose of cooperatingwith the mounting flanges It and l l for mounting the outlet box on a wall, I provide clamping elements I! and it. The clamping elements are of identical shape so that a description of one will suffice for both. One of the clamping elements is shown in perspective in Figure 4 of the drawing and, by referring particularly to this figure, it will be seen that said clamping element includes a body plate H! which is reduced to define a mounting portion 20. The lower end of the mounting portion 221 is provided with a kerf 2| which leads from one side of said mounting portion, laterally, and extends throughout the major portion of the width of the mounting portion 20. The upper end edge of the body plate I9 is turned laterally and rearwardly to define a stop rib 22 which will also serve to reinforce the upper end of the clamping element.

Reference is now had particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, wherein clamping elements are shown in various positions. The clamping elements are installed by inserting their ribs 22 and body plates l9 through the clamping element receiving slots IE to the point where the kerfs 2| will confront the portions of the top and bottom-walls 2 and 3 which bound the slots. The tongues 23, which are defined by the kerfs 2|, will engage in the guide slots l4 and I5. The kerfs 2! also define lower members 24 which limit the upward movement of the elements from the body and cooperate with the tongues for pro- Viding sliding connection between the elements and the top and bottom walls of the body.

Clamping screws 25 are passed through the ears 8 and 9, above the guide slots l4 and I5, and

through threaded openings 25 in the body plates of the clamping elements. Tightening of the clamping screws will shift the clamping elements forwardly, with the tongues 23 in the slots l4 and I5, until said elements have their forward surfaces engaging with the rear surface of a portion of a wall, the forward surface of said portion of wall being engaged with the mounting flanges It and i I. In other words, the mounting flanges will cooperate with the clamping elements for effectively clamping the outlet box in place on a wall.

When initially moving the outlet box into the opening in the wall wherein it is to be secured, it will be desirable to move the clamping elements to such position that they will not interfere with shifting movement of the body into the opening. To accomplish this, it is only necessary to unscrew the clamping screws for shifting the clamping elements rearwardly in the guide slots I 4 and I5. After said screws have been rotated sufliciently, the mounting portions of the clamping elements will be disposed above the clamp element receiving slots I6. Release of tension on the clamping screws will permit said screws and clamping elements to drop, respectively, into the guide slots l4 and I5 and the clamping element receiving slots 16, to positions shown in Figure 3. By referring to Figure 3, it will be noted that the clamping elements will be disposed out of the way so that the outlet box may be moved into and out of the mounting opening with the greatest facility. After the clamping elements I! have moved to the retracted positions shown in Figure 3, the screws may be tightened slightly for locking said elements l1 in said retracted positions. Thus, the clamping elements will be protected against possible loss or mutilation.

It is desired to point out that my device is characterized by the utmost simplicity in construction and will be highly efficient in use. The use of my device will permit quick and positive mounting of outlet boxes during the construction of buildings. It is thought that further description of the invention is unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an outlet box, a body having top and bottom walls formed with guide slots and ears, clamping element receiving slots intersecting the guide slots, mounting flanges carried by the body, clamping elements slidably carried by the body and having tongues engageable in the guide slots, and clamping screws extending through the ears and having threaded connection with the clamping elements and being rotatable for shifting the clamping elements to position for cooperating with the mounting flanges for clamping the outlet box in a wall, said clamping screws being rotatable in an opposite direction for shifting the clamping elements to a position for retraction through the clamping element receiving slots whereby said outlet box may be freely moved into and out of a wall opening.

2. In an outlet box, a body having top and bottom walls each provided with a guide slot and a clamping element receiving slot, said slots intersecting, mounting flanges carried by the body at the forward ends of the walls, clamping elements slidably mounted on the body, each of said clamping elements having a body plate and a mounting portion, said mounting portion having a kerf defining a tongue and a lower member, the tongues of the clamping elements being engageable in the guide slots and the lower members being engageable with the margins defining the guide slots for limiting movement of said clamping elements from the body, and clamping screws having threaded connection with the clamping elements and being rotatable in one direction for shifting said clamping elements to a position to cooperate with the mounting flanges for clamping the outlet box in a wall, said clamping screws being rotatable in an opposite direction for shifting the clamping elements rearwardly and disposing said clamping elements for retraction through the clamping element receiving slots whereby free movement of the body into and out of a wall opening will be permitted.

ALFRED L. GREGERSEN. 

